Browsing Tag

Hip-Hop

Amytra – Writ of Love: Soulfully Socially Conscious Hip-Hop.

Posted on 17 July 2023

After watching Malcolm X and MLK speeches, Amytra launched the most socially conscious hip-hop hit of the summer by debuting her playfully soul-driven fourth single, Writ of Love. Writing on difficult topics doesn’t typically result in serotonin-spilling sonics, but Amytra defied the odds and broke new ground with Writ of Love.

After starting with a definition of the word Writ provided by Siri, the funky basslines feed the liberating high-vibe atmosphere, which will throw you right back to the 90s as you drink in the empowering lyricism inspired by recent acts of injustice and the pervasive influence of systematic oppression on society.

The only people who could bring themselves to love to hate this infectious hit are the regressively abhorrent zealots who cling to discrimination under the illusion of falsified superiority and throw their new favourite buzzword, ‘woke’, around like it’s an insult.

Writ of Love was Co-Produced by none other than Dr Ron Moton, best known for being a 22-year member of the Platinum, Grammy award-winning group, Confunkshun.

Watch the official music video for Writ of Love on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: OTH€LLO introduced the future of Afro Fusion with his debut single, SZA 4 NGAZ

Posted on 17 July 2023

The Montreal-born, Harlem-based Afrobeat innovator OTH€LLO took gospel out of church and implanted it firmly in his ethereal dream of an Afrobeat RnB debut single, SZA 4 NGAZ.

Fittingly, after his music journey began by being introduced to Congolese gospel and secular soukous tunes by his Congolese immigrant parents, the sensuous single, which celebrates staying true to your roots while practising radical acceptance, finds plenty of room for religious imagery and tonality.

After a sensuously ambient RnB intro complete with saturated in warm delay indie guitars, SZA 4 NGAZ starts to tease hip-hop elements with the fiery canter of his verses before winding it all back down in the dynamically versatile hit that reached the pinnacle of Afro-Fusionist authenticity.

SZA 4 NGAZ is a sublimely promising start to OTH€LLO’s career. His carresively pure vocal lines paired with his down-to-earth lyrical style are enough to kickstart a new revolution in soul.

In the words of OTH€LLO:

“This song is an exploration of how growing my dreads again after cutting my first set was like falling again. It sonically narrates the process of self-love and self-acceptance through a fiercely Afrocentric and sexual perspective.”

After releasing SZA 4 NGAZ, OTH€LLO is back in the studio orchestrating his debut EP. If the forthcoming material is as arcane as his debut, you’ll want to save plenty of room on your radar.

SZA 4 NGAZ was officially released on the 1st of July; hear it on Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get Caught on the Hooks of Im Ty’s Latest High-Vibe Trap Pop Hit, Baddie

Posted on 16 July 2023

The Washington-born, Maryland-raised independent trap artist Im Ty gave his steadily growing army of fans a new addictively rhythmic fix with his latest single, Baddie.

Since his debut, Im Ty has gone down as one of the most dynamic names in the trap scene with this captivatingly authentic music and heart-of-gold-in-spite-of-honest-bad-intentions persona. If there is any room for more marks on the Maryland map, there are few artists more deserving of going down in hip-hop history than Im Ty after dropping Baddie on the airwaves.

Staying true to form, Baddie was created through his relentless MO to deliver infectious beats and melodies that will tattoo themselves across your mind as fast as tear-drop tattoos manifest as soon as they’re earned in the hood.

With elements of hip-hop, RnB & pop worked into the vibe-steady and dance-worthy hit that paints a relatable portrait of a modern femme fatale and advocates confidence and self-expression, there are hooks and high-energy harmonic accordance by the smorgasbord.

Stream Baddie on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Covered in Blood: Hardcore Baltimore rapper Dbn Kai sees the bullet dance on Gravedigger

Posted on 13 July 2023

After kicking all sub-standard haters to the curb with fierce ferocity on In The Way, Dbn Kai prays up above and sinks further into a demon-packed world which can make your spirit go cold on Gravedigger.

Dbn Kai is a Baltimore, USA-based indie rapper who punches above his weight on each track and uses his bodybuilding to further cement his name as one of the toughest around.

Feeling rather evil and dropping an underground single to bounce with, Dbn Kai has his hood on tight and is in no mood to mess around no matter the weather. This is heart-stopping stuff with a hefty beat that might lacerate veins in the dark,

Gravedigger from the Baltimore hip-hop artist Dbn Kai is a potent track that might be able to break open the glass. Smashing through cold souls and telling us what goes down after 2 am, this is an assertive single that might scare some and enthuse others.

Digging into haunting air, this is a single to play on loud all night long.

Listen up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Drift away with WIN’s latest single, Goodnight, and see why he is the brightest Bronx trap luminary in 2023

Posted on 12 July 2023

Smooth out your playlists with the latest RnB-infused, pseudo-trap lullaby, Goodnight, from the up-and-coming urban trailblazer WIN.

With dreamy jazz nuances worked into the soporific mix, Goodnight is a soulfully musical exhibition of the Bronx-hailing recording artist’s talent and ingenuity, which has seen him performing at a series of high-profile music festivals, including Harlem Art Festival, SXSW, and Daze Summit.

With his melodic uptempo spoken-word bars dominating the hazy mix, there are few vibe-out tracks that succeed in spilling catharsis and feel-good energy simultaneously in this vein. With his infectiously enigmatic charisma paired with his cutting wordplay skills that paint vivid vignettes of life in the Bronx, you can consider WIN as the brightest trap luminary in. 2023.

Goodnight hit the airwaves on June 7th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I just move like this: Lxry LB will always get 50 assists on Like This

Posted on 9 July 2023

Ice cold and dribbling past all frosty incomers no matter what the court or competition, Rich Legacy Entertainment fueled Lxry LB projects his inner Shaq and Kobe dynamism to drop 3-pointers all night long with his hot new single, Like This.

Lxry LB is a Greensboro, North Carolina-based hip-hop artist who flows with a tremendously raw edge which shall summon nodding heads no matter what type of rap you’re into.

With a dazzling array of lyrically sharp ear-sizzlers to get us enthusiastic about what we are witnessing, Greensboro rapper Lxry LB has the kind of conviction which will motivate others to follow their dreams. Brushing away any pointless negativity and slicing open the court of life, he showcases his briskly tuned bars which will surely gain respect from underground hip-hop heads worldwide.

Like This from Greensboro, North Carolina-based rapper extraordinaire Lxry LB features one of the tightest beats around and introduces us to a smooth talker who has moved far from those dark days. Leaving haters shivering in fear and cross-dribbling to snap ankles, this is an uplifting track showing us the value of self-belief and valuable investment to be the best.

When you know it’s your time, the only way to win is to shine right now.

Lace up and never regret anything on SoundCloud.

Find out more about future shows and releases on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Where they Gone: KNARS sees the bankers laughing on the most important single of 2023 called World is Burning

Posted on 8 July 2023

Telling us all the facts inside the cruel world of politics and banking which seems designed to hurt those who need money the most, KNARS boils our feelings and shall summon an energy which opens up those wounds which many are still healing from on the epic new single, World is Burning.

Created by the Dutch lyricist, music producer and filmmaker, Martijn Holtslag, KNARS is a massively reputable musician who has shown us his deepest frustrations on this memorable experience.

He shows us what is really happening. In raw detail. Wow. This is surely one of the most revealing tracks made this year. Or ever. KNARS is his name. Respect has been gained. It takes a  lot of gusto to tell it like this. He’s not wrong, is he?

World is Burning from the Dutch indie electronic/hip-hop fusion artist KNARS might rocket a vibe of eye-opening proportions beneath all listeners. Golly gosh this is an instant classic right?

With a beat so catchy and lyrics to wake up the sleepy..or tired..we are thrilled to the core on this brilliant single to play until the world does finally sizzle into nothingness.

See this fine music video on YouTube.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

ADZii BOii put Scotland on the alt-hip-hop map with ‘Pleasure Beach’

Posted on 7 July 2023
ADZii BOii

ADZii BOii put Scotland on the alt-hip-hop map with his latest single, Pleasure Beach, which sun-soaked the airwaves on July 7th.

After getting airplay from BBC Radio Scotland with the title single to his debut album, Colours, he’s in equally as colourful form on Pleasure Beach, which mixes up the archetypal urban instrumentals by including saturated in delay guitars, the radiant hues of organs and sleek piano keys.

With more charisma and tongue-in-cheek charm than Limmy in his salaciously rhythmic rap bars, ADZii BOii is apologetic in his lothario-like lyricality, and Pleasure Beach is all the more electrifying for it. If you want to head to Portobello Beach without heading to Edinburgh, hit play and let the wavy melodies soak you in.

Stream Pleasure Beach on Spotify and follow ADZii BOii on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Awesome Crew turned back the hip-hop clock with ‘Back in the Days’

Posted on 6 July 2023

With more old-school appeal than DJ Jazzy Jeff, the latest nostalgia hit, Back in the Days, from The Awesome Crew is a trip back in time you will want to take time and time again. The ascending melodic keys against the scratching turntables and slow-tempo rap verses will leave you on the razor-sharp hook of the hit, which takes nothing seriously but the soul.

The modern era of hip-hop left its mark on the tonally scintillating record through the RnB infusions, but in terms of attitude, Back in the Days will safely transplant you on the streets of Brooklyn while the 80s were in full swing.

While many modern hip-hop acts are keen to emanate the 80s, The Awesome Crew are one of the only MC outfits that have seen the 80s and thrived within the hip-hop landscape; founded by Smooth D, Daddy D, and Classy D, the history of The Awesome Crew stems back to 1986. Tragically, Smooth D was shot and killed in 1993, but the remaining members are still working tirelessly to secure his and their legacy. Based on Back in the Days, they’ve profoundly succeeded.

Stream Back in the Days on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take yourself to a higher plateau with Flvmo’s lo-fi indie hip-hop single, 33, ft. BYND & Keem Kooley

Posted on 5 July 2023

After cutting his teeth in the industry for almost a decade, Flvmo’s standout single, 33, couldn’t be more honed. Created in collaboration with BYND and Keem Kooley, the versatile hit leaves you questioning where it will take you next with every progression. While the stylistic aural curveballs keep you on your toes, your rhythmic pulses will find it all too easy to get into the grooves.

Fusing lo-fi indie vibes, melodically mellow hip-hop energy and RnB pop harmonies created an immersively irreplicable sonic palette, which will leave you on cloud nine from the first spin.

If you are anything like me and you’re sick of only finding ego-driven extroverts on the airwaves and you want to bed down with some soul from an introvert exposing his vulnerability in an intimately relatable way, prepare for a fistful of resonance.

Stream 33 on Spotify now. If you get a taste for Flvmo’s distinctively addictive flavour from 33, dig into his debut LP, Mind in a Mason Jar.

Review by Amelia Vandergast